Page 144 of Heavenly Bodies

‘You gave your word.’

Black tendrils snaked out of Gem’s nostrils as Elara continued to choke her, a thrill drumming through her. The lightin Gem’s pale blue eyes began to dim, her face turning grey as she clawed at her throat.

‘No. I said that I wasn’t like you.’ Elara drove her blade further through the god’s chest. ‘I’m worse.’

The moment Elara killed Gem, the Star’s spell over the guards broke. She saw them both slump to the floor as they were finally released from the goddess’s torment. But Elara had bigger things to worry about. She wrapped her shadows around the bars to her cell andpulled.It was delight she felt coursing through her veins as the bars bent and twisted under the pressure from her shadows, now utterly free.

When the guards finally awoke, she knew it would be to the corpse of the Star. But even if they sounded an alarm, it would be too late.

She side-stepped their bodies, summoning an illusion as she turned herself into nothing and strode out of the dungeons.

Mercifully, the corridors were still empty. She wondered where all those who lived in the palace had gone—hoping that they had fled the moment Ariete arrived. She sent up a prayer for Merissa, before sprinting towards thelucirium.

She thought it strange that there were no guards stationed outside. A rattle of the doorknob told her the door was locked, but locks couldn’t stop her now. She pushed her shadows into the seam of the door until the lock clicked, and then shoved the door open.

Slumped on the floor, on the other side of the door, was Leo, unconscious.

And beyond him were Enzo and Idris, Enzo turningtowards her in shock, while Idris remained slumped in a chair. One of the king’s eyes was swollen shut, his nose coated in dried blood. And thesoverinbehind them was cracked.

‘What happened?’ Elara breathed.

Enzo said nothing, pacing towards Elara and crushing his lips to hers. She nearly sobbed, to be held in his arms once more. But she forced herself to remain focused, as she pulled away gently.

‘Well, well,’ came a sneer behind them. ‘It seems I was right.’

Enzo turned slowly to his father, who was looking at the two in disgust from his one good eye.

‘You stupid, stupid boy.’

‘Careful, Father,’ he warned softly.

Idris hauled himself up. ‘What did I tell you about your soft, foolish heart? All these years, wasted, trying to train you into a warrior. And the first glimpse of some Asteriancunt, you betray your kingdom.’

Light—a bolt of it so strong—slammed into Idris. The king flew back, crashing into one of the mirrors that lined the room, and glass shattered.

‘Say one more word,’ Enzo whispered.

The shock upon Idris’s face was quickly mastered as he laughed weakly. Before his own light flared to life, a terrible, snaking whip, and struck Enzo across the face.

Elara cried out as Enzo grunted, clutching his face. With a growl, she summoned her shadows, but Enzo held out his hand. ‘This is my fight,’ he said and, reluctantly, she stepped back, though her heart hammered.

Enzo conjured his own light—a wall of it—and blasted it into Idris, whose head cracked back against the mirror. The king hissed in pain, before he sent another whip of light, which this time struck Enzo’s knees.

‘Enzo,’ Elara pleaded.

‘No, Elara,’ Enzo replied sharply. He panted, eyes fixed on his father.

Idris staggered up from the wall and approached, nothing but contempt painted on his features. ‘You know, you get that weakness from your mother.’

More rays struck, and Enzo stayed kneeling upright, though Elara could see his whole body wanting to buckle.

‘Don’t you dare fucking talk about her,’ Enzo panted. Blood ran down his body, such an awful twin to the image she had seen within his dreams.

‘Do you want to really know why she was killed?’

Elara stilled, and even Enzo seemed to hold his breath.

‘I have searched for as long as I can remember for a way to defeat the Stars. And upon my quest to know, every seer in my employ sought the truth alongside me. Until finally it was spoken to me. The answers came from two seers, each who brought me a vision. The first was of a glass so dark it swallowed even starlight. And the seer called itduskglass.Can you guess who told me that? Which little Svetan girl I allowed to stay in the palace?’